Expression of an exogenous interleukin 6 gene in human Epstein Barr virus B cells confers growth advantage and in vivo tumorigenicity.

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/2162905

J. Exp. Med. 1990 Jul 1 172 1 61-8

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Authors

Forni G, Scala G, Venuta S, Quinto I, Mallardo M, Ruocco MR, Arcucci A, Caretto P

Affiliation

Dipartimento di Biochimica e Biotecnologie Mediche, II Facoltà di Medicina, Napoli, Italy.

Abstract

The biological role of interleukin 6 (IL-6) molecules in human B cell tumorigenesis was studied by using an episomal expression vector, pHEBoSV-IL6, to introduce stably the human IL-6 gene into human Epstein Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B lymphoblasts. The gene was present in the IL-6-transfected cells in a high copy number and was efficiently expressed, resulting in the secretion of consistent levels of IL-6 molecules. The constitutive expression of the IL-6 gene led to an altered pattern of growth and to a malignant phenotype, as shown by clonogenicity in to an altered pattern of growth and to a malignant phenotype, as shown by clonogenicity in soft agar cultures and tumorigenicity in nude mice. These data suggest that the combined action of EBV, which exerts an immortalizing function, and of the growth-promoting activity of IL-6 molecules, can give rise to fully transformed B cell tumors in immunodeficient subjects.

PMID
2162905

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't